NORTH HILLS, N.Y. — Dealertrack (div. Cox Automotive) announced the launch of a new F&I software platform, Dealertrack uniFI. Billed as an industry first, the new platform is designed to streamline the car-buying process for consumers, dealers, lenders, and warranty providers by offering a single platform that seamlessly connects the entire deal process with open integration.

Instead of switching between multiple systems and re-entering data each time, uniFI was designed to allow dealership staff to run credit checks, submit credit applications, structure deals and calculate accurate payments, add aftermarket products, and speed trade-in payoff and title release, all on one interface. uniFI also generates compliance-specific documents that meet federal laws and regulations and creates a checklist to track actions — all in one digital deal jacket — and connects both online and in-store interactions, making it easier to seamlessly track the entire car-buying experience for each customer, all according to the announcement.

“The car-buying experience should be an exciting time for consumers, but it’s often lengthened by a set of disjointed technologies required to finalize the sale,” said Cheryl Miller, vice president and general manager of Dealertrack F&I Solutions. “Dealertrack uniFI creates a single technology platform to simplify the process. Dealership sales staff spend less time logging into and typing data into various systems, enabling customers to enjoy their new vehicles more quickly and freeing dealers to focus more attention on serving customers.”

An open platform architecture was adopted to allow Dealertrack uniFI to work with other solutions from Cox Automotive and other providers, as well as with Dealertrack’s network of more than 1,600 lending institutions.

“After our upgrade to the new Dealertrack uniFI platform, I’ve experienced a level of efficiency that gives me both speed and accuracy and allows me to work more deals for more customers in a shorter period of time,” said Richard Cirami, finance director of North Shore Honda in Glen Head, N.Y., an early customer of Dealertrack uniFI.

“F&I is the backbone of any dealership, and Dealertrack uniFI has made a significant impact on our business by making our F&I process faster from start to finish,” said Joe Speaker, sales manager for Neuwirth Cars On Market in Wilmington, N.C., who’s also an early customer of Dealertrack uniFI. “I now utilize more lenders and the faster workflow has made me a more valuable employee. The quicker turnaround time in F&I also means happier customers and better CSI scores.”

“In today’s fast-paced world, we could all use some extra time,” Miller concluded. “Dealertrack uniFI is one way that Cox Automotive is trying to help both customers and dealers gain back time that they can spend on more enjoyable and productive activities.”